Page 18 of Kadra: The Unfeeling

I have him now and there’s no way the devil will take us twice.

I’ll die before I let that happen.

Slowing down the bike, I wait for them to catch up. “Keep your head down,” I tell the boy. When I think he is going to defy me, he doesn’t.

With one hand steering the bike, I reach behind me, pull my gun out and shoot. The moment I do the van makes a quick U-turn and speeds away leaving the driver without back-up. You can’t even trust your own people these days.

Focusing on the driver who won’t stop coming after us, I start shooting again. I missed the first three shots but not the fourth. The bullet hits its target and then I witness it as they fall off their bike seconds before it crashes.

Stopping my bike, I look over my shoulder just in time to see the person – a man – remove his helmet.

“Stay here,” I murmured to the kid. Azariel nods and stays put. Good boy.

I spot two black vans coming up on either side of the biker that’s been following us. My men as always are not so far behind ready to strike if they sense me in any danger. I don’t go out with an entourage but since I have precious cargo tonight I brought my hellhounds with me.

Climbing off the bike, I move towards the man on the ground with my gun in hand ready to end whoever decided to hunt me tonight but then what I see when I am near the man doesn’t surprise me. Not even a little. I was beginning to wonder what was taking him so long.

My clever, perfect Russian.

You’re a long way from New York.

Chapter 5

KADRA

BEAUTIFUL FOE

“You’ll always have my heart.” – K

Kadra 11 - Vitali 21

Some say that no storm can last forever but I’m beginning to wonder if that might not be true. Because lately, it feels as if I’m caught in the middle of one. A phenomenon that is never calm and it’s always reckless. “Happy death day, Amadeo.” I place a teacup on top of his headstone and pour him some tea. “Kind of depressing, huh?” I take a sip of my tea while I lean back with my new book sitting on my lap. “You died the day I was born…” I whisper, feeling a melancholic rush take over me. I hate how on this day I always feel a little too much and hate the world a whole lot too. While most kids are woken up in the morning by their parents peppering their faces with kisses and showering them with love and presents, I woke up wishing it was the next day.

Birthdays.

What a tragic waste.

It’s one of those days a year when both my sisters and I can’t ignore the sad truth of our lives. We are not loved and we were never wanted so we are never celebrated. Not by our parents and definitely not by the world.

Hell, even God gave up on us before he even gave us a chance. What are three more tragic girls in the grand scheme of things?

A rush of wind blows my dark hair in different directions while goosebumps crawl up my neck causing me to shiver.

I feel him before I see him.

Don’t ask me how, I just do. It’s a feeling. One that’s new and so very confusing.

Then there’s the black crow that’s been a constant on these grounds for a year since the man behind me appeared.

“My nonna says it’s not polite to eavesdrop.” I pour the liquid into my teacup without looking his way. I don’t have to see him to know he’s there.

It’s his presence. I feel it.

A year has passed since the first and last time I saw the man in black. Before him, I used to frequent this cemetery whenever I felt the need to escape reality and after him I found myself coming more frequently. I came here every time I could without being followed by my father’s men. Even if I don’t admit it aloud every time I step foot inside these hallowed grounds, I search for him but the man with the empty eyes didn’t come to the cemetery again.

Until today.

He appeared out of nowhere like a rainstorm looming. Out of nowhere and today of all days.

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